Potato separating machine



Dec. 26, 1950 P. LA PolNTE POTATO SEPARATING MACHINE 4 Shee's-'Sheet l Filed May 15, 1947 Dec. 26, 1950 P. LA PolNTE 2535,801

POTATO SEPARATING MACHINE Filed May 13, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 Trak/v6):

` Dec. 26, 1950 P. LA PolN'rE 2,535,801

PoTATo' SEPARATING MACHINE Filed May 13. 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 o /A/l/ENTOR.

4 /7 5719? Pa/Nff I I H- WWW 95 93 95, O

Dec. 26, 1950 P, LA PolNTE POTATO SEPARATING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 13, 1947 lan/EN roR. PETER /o/A/ff .4 Wam/EV.

Patented Dec. 26, 1950 UNITED STATES.` PATENT OFFICE PoTA'ro SEPARATING MACHINE Peter La points, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application May 13, 1947, Serial No. 747,645

9 claims.` (cl. 209-470) This invention relates to new and .useful improvements in potato separating machines, and i particularly relates to improvements in my potato separating machine disclosed in niy` pending i patent application, Serial No. 633,504, filed December 7, 1945, matured into United States Letters Patent No. 2,448,416.` I have discovered that the operation of my prior ipotato separating machine is somewhat criticalin that the potatoes enter the stream of,` air at a downwardly directed angle andrunless the air pressure and Velocity of the vstream is substantially correct `the potatoes will either gather` too much momentum and -go down with therrocks and other heavy materials,

oritheysmay be blown upwards and be dischargedwiththe `potato tops, dirt` and weeds, and the i other light materials. However, when the pres- M sure and-Velocity of the air stream is in a Satisfactory range the potatoes will cross the-hair stream as desired, while the rocks fall down and the light material is blown upwards.

The present invention has foran important object to feed the potatoes into the air stream at substantially right angles tok-the air stream*` to avoid downward momentum from causing'the potatoes to go downwith thelrocks.`

Another important object of this` invention re-` sides in providing a porous conveying system having sections for conveying and guiding potatoes` through the air stream, asdesired.

More particularly, the invention proposes the provision of air guiding means for guiding the streambf air in a substantially Vertical `,direction. It is pro-posed that this air guiding means be provided with a throat section in which the` stream of air can fioat potatoes and in which o heavy foreign materials, such as rocks, will fall down. It is also proposed that the air `guiding meansV be provided with an air ,expanding ,sec-

tion in which the potatoes will not fioat, but in which the light foreign materials, such as dirt,

weeds andpotato tops will'be blown upwards. Itis proposed that the conveying system be porous so that the air stream may pass through it.

It'is furthermore proposed that the conveying` system be connected with a conventional potato` digger for conveying potatoes and natural foreign materials inthe soil as received from `thedigger`` through said air stream.`

It is` an important object `of, this inventionjto provide the porousconveying system with a. por,``

tato carrying section extending substantially horizontally across` the air expanding` section `of the air` guiding means so that said current `.of airqmayH provisicn of means for transferring the potatoes from said potatolcarrying section of theporous conveying system, referred to above, to the said overhead potato holding section.

It is also proposed to provide means above said air expanding section of the air guiding means for directing said stream of air laterally so that thelight foreign materials may be guided and blown laterally to fall baclcito the' ground.

The invention also proposes` a new and novel cross unloading conveyor forii'emovingj the separated potatoes for makingV` roomffornew separated potatoes, and thus making the potato separating machine continuous inoperationf"` Another object of thisfi-invention is Ato icon-`V struct the air guidingmeans wthsrigid and fiex-` ible baffies for guiding the air stream and for facilitating the passage of the air stream. i

The invention also contemplates certain inn'- vations` in the porous conveying system chara'z terized particularly by the fact that the system includes a bar or equivalent conveying section With pockets, a wire mesh or equivalentonveying section, and a canvas or equivalntbslt potatoesacros the light foreign materials. It is proposed that the canvas belt conveying section be arranged to convey away the' dirt from the barand wire conveying Sections as soon as feasible;

Another object of the invention' istl'ie` coni struction of a device as described which`V is simple and` durable and whichmay be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further `comprehension of the invent-ion, and of theobjects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings,` and to the appendedclaims in -which the` various novel features `of the invention are more particularly set forth..

convy ingsection. It is proposed thattthegwire mesh`v` conveying section be disposed beneath the bar`` `Corlveying section for assisting insupporting the In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a potato separating machine constructed in accordance With this invention.

Fig. 2 is an end view of Fig. 1, looking from the right hand end.

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line -i of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 3.

Fig. '1'UL is a fragmentary sectional view similar to a portion of Fig. 4, to which has been added an illustrative showing of the potatoes being conveyed across the air stream While the rocks are falling down by gravity.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevational view of a potato separating machine constructed in accordance With another form of this invention.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan view of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on the line Ill-IB of Fig. 8.

The potato separating machine, in accordance with this invention, includes air guiding i means for guiding a stream of air in a substantia-lly Vertical direction. This air guiding means comprises a series of baffies |U, Il, |2 and |3 mounted transversely across Vertical front and back walls I 4 and IE, respectively. A blower Hi is provided for driving a current of air npwards through said air guiding means. The bfowei' w is supported between the walls |4 and i5 and frame of the machine. The blower |6 has the usual central air intake IB and the peripheral air discharge |9. This air discharge |9 is disposed at the bottom of the said air guiding means for directing a current of air upwards between the baffies w, |2 and |3, and between the Walls M and |5.

The baffie isl constructed of rubber or other fiexible material, and is provided with a plulrality of slits l l', seo Fig. 6, extended downwards frorn its top edge, So as to divide off small top' portions which may easily flex to permit potatoes to pass, as Will be hereinafter further described.

The. baflies. iii, H and |2 are positioned immediately above the air discharge |9 of the blower I S and form a throat section in which the streaim of air from the blower U5 is poWerful enough to: fioat potatoes, but in which heavy foreign materials, such as rocks, will fall down. The air discharge |9 of the blower |6 is covered With a. suitable screen 2| arranged at a downwardly' directed inclination so that the rocks and heavy materials Will be guided downwards and rearwards and Will discharge into a container 22 mounted between the walls |4 and |5. This container 22 is provided with a door 23 which gives access to it so that the rocks and heavy materials may be removed, as desired.

Directly above the bafiies and l2, the air guiding means is relatively open, forming an, air expanding section at this area generally indicated by the reference numeral 24, in which potatoes Will not float, but in which fiight foreign materials such as dirt, Weeds and potato topsl Will be blown upWards. Above the air expanding section there is a top housing 25 having a baffie Wall 26 for guiding the stream of air upwards and rearWards of the potato separating:

machine. At the extreme top, the top housing 25 is provided with an adjustable exit baffle 21. This bafiie 21 is pivotally supported upon a rod 28, one end of which is provided With a lever 29 having a screw 3|] engageable with one of a series of openings 3| in an arcuate plate 32 mounted on the side of the top housing 25 and by which the adjustable baffle 21 may be adjusted.

The housing 25 has an open rear end across which a rotary potato top thrower 36 is mountcd. This rotary potato top thrower 36 is in the nature of a large drum having radial vanes 31. The rotary potato top thrower 36 is supported on a shaft 33 mounted upon adjustable supports 34 mounted on tracks 35 on the sides of the top housing 25. The stream of air discharged by the blower |6 Will travel upwards through the top housing 25 and will drive, that is, rotate the potato top thrower 36 to assist in throwing the light foreign materials to the rear of the potato separating machine. The blower |6 is provided With a drive sprocket 38 by which it may be operated. It is proposed that this drive sprocket 38 be connected With an engine which may be mounted on the main frame |1, or with the engine of a tractor used for moving the potato separating machine around.

The main frame |1 is supported at the front by swivel front Wheels 40. At the back it has back Wheels 4|. A potato digger 42 is mounted on the bottom portion of the main frame |1. This potato digger 42 includes a digger shovel 39 connected with a digger frame 43 which is pivotally supported by a shaft 44 mounted across the walls |4 and |5. The potato digger 42 is associated With a digger elevator 45 by which it may be raised and lowered. This digger elevator 45 includes a Vertical support rod 46 connected With a control lever 41 which is pivotally mounted atits rear end 48 on the main frame |1. The lever 41 is held in various positions by a pin 49 engaging one of series of openings 50 upon a stationary support bar 5| mounted on said main frame l'l.

A porous conveying system is connected With. said digger 42 for conveying potatoes and for-- eign materials found in the soil as received from: the digger shovel 39 through the air stream dis-- charged by the blower |6. More particularly, thel porous conveying system consists of a number of' conveyors, namely, conveyors 53, 54 and 55. The conveyor 53 is in the nature of an endless conveyor including a plurality of spaced acljacent'.

potato supporting cross bars 56 arranged at'Y angles to each other to form pockets for holding: potatoes. The conveyor 53 extends around front. Wheels 51 mounted on the digger frame 43 im-y mediately to the rear of the digger shovel 39 soy as to receive the material from the digger shovel'. 40. The conveyor 53 then extends rearwards. over a series of guiding Wheels 58, 59, 69 andl 6 and partially around a conveyor guiding drum. 62. The Wheels 58 are mounted on the digger' frame 43, and the Wheels 59, 60 and 5| are:v mounted on the Walls |4 and |5. The conveyor' 53 is driven by drive sprockets 63 mounted on. the shaft 44 which may be driven by a prime: mover, or said shaft may be connected With the engine of the tractor, not shown.

The conveyor 53 is kept in a tightly stretched position by resiliently mounted idler Wheels 64. These Wheels 64 are mounted upon rods 65 slidably mounted upon brackets 66 on the Walls |4` and |5. Springs 61 are mounted coaxially on the rods 65 and act between certain of the brackets 66 and collars 68 mounted on the rods 65 for urging the rods 65 outwards. In the event that large rocks and other large materials are picked up by the conveyor 53, these materials may travel around the conveyor drum 62 Without damage to the potato separating machine because the Springs 61 will merely be compressed as the conveyor 53 adjusts itself. The conveyor drum 62 has a central cylindrical section 69 and end fianges With sprocket teeth. The conveyor 53 is guided upon the sprocket teeth of the end fianges 10. The drum 62 is mounted upon an axle 11 which is supported in bearings 12 mounted on the main frame 11.

The conveyor 54 is also an endless conveyor. It includes a plurality of bars 52 at angles to each other forming pockets for receiving the potatoes. Said conveyor 54 also includes a plurality of rubber baflles 14 spaced from each other at distances of about 10" or so, and projecting from the carrying surface of the conveyor. The endless conveyor 54 extends over a series of guiding Wheels mounted on the Walls 14 and 15 and on the digger frame 43. The path of the endless conveyor 54 may be traced by starting at the Wheels 16 which are positioned directly to the rear of the digger shovel 39 so that a section of the conveyor 54 is positioned above a section of the conveyor 53. The bottom section of the conveyor 54 extends rearwards from the Wheels 16, then partially around the cylindrical portion 69 of the conveyor drum 62 and then through the air expanding section 24 of the air guiding means for the air stream of the blower 16 to a position around the Wheels 18. The conveyor 54 then continues around the Wheels 19 and 80 and back to the said Wheels 16.

The main purpose of the endless conveyor 54 is to form What We may call an overhead potato holding section 81 extending across the throat section of the air guiding means for the stream of air produced by the blower 16. The potatoes Will be blown up against this section 8| of the conveyor 54 which moves across the stream of air. The main purpose of the pockets in the conveyor 54 and the rubber baflies 14 is to sweep the potatoes through the air stream at this section 81. It should be noted that another section of the conveyor 54, indicated by the reference numeral 82, and located above the section 81 is located in the air expanding section 24 of the air guiding means. It is at this section 82 that the light materials Will be blown upwards. The conveyor 54 also assists the conveyor 53 in conveying upwards the potatoes and foreign materials because sectionsof these conveyors are parallel to each other, extending from the digger shovel 39 backwards and upWards partially around the conveyor drum 62, and at the top the conveyor 53 Will transfer its load of potatoes and foreign materials to conveyor 54.

The conveyor 55 is in the nature of an endless Wire screen conveyor. The conveyor 55 extends around Wheels 83 and is guided by Wheels 84 and then extends partially around the conveyor drum 62 beneath the conveyor 54. The Wheels 83 and 84 are mounted on the Walls 14 and 15. It should be noted that sections of the conveyor 55 also cross the air stream of the blower 16 at points close to the conveyor Sections 8| and 82. The purpose of the Wire screen conveyor 55 is to support Weeds and other relatively large light foreign materials so as to convey them across the air stream to be blown upwards. i i

A dirt handling conveyor is disposed beneath a section of the Wire screen conveyor 55. Morel particularly, the dirt handling conveyor 85 is in the nature of an endless Canvas belt. It extends partially around the cylindrical portion 69 of the conveyor drum 62 beneath the Wire mesh conveyor 55. The conveyor 85 is guided by Wheels 86 and 81 mounted on the walls 14 and 15. It should be noted that the dirt handling conveyor 85 does not extend across the air stream but Will discharge dirt upon the top of an endless cross conveyor 90. This endless cross conveyor 90 is`1ocated directly to the rear of the balile 11. The conveyor 90 has a top section 9| and a bottom section 92. It is guided over a group of wheels 93 on brackets 95 mounted on the Walls 14 and 15. The ends of the cross conveyor 90 extend out through openings 96 in the Walls 14 and 15.

The dirt which is deposited upon the top section 9| by the dirt handling conveyor 85 Will be thrown off to the side of the potato separating machine. 'I'he potatoes that cross the air stream With the help of the pockets and baflies 14 of the conveyor 54, at the section 8| will be discharged upon the top of the bottom section 92 of the cross conveyor 90. The baflie I is necessary to properly guide the air stream, but it is also necessary that the potatoes pass the baiile I 1. For this reason the baiile 1 1 is flexible, preferably made of rubber. The potatoes which are discharged upon the bottom section 92 of the cross conveyor 90 Will be engaged against a stationary inclined discharge blade 94 which will direct the potatoes off the bottom section 92 into storage containers or receptacles, such as bags, not illustrated on the drawlng.

Certain sections of the conveyors 53 and 54 support and carry the potatoes and the foreign materials as received from the digger shovel 39. These portions of these conveyors may be called carrying sections, or a carrying section. A means is provided for transferring the potatoes and foreign materials from said carrying section of the conveyors to the said overhead potato holding conveyor section 8 I. This transferring means is in the nature of an endless conveyor 91. The conveyor 91 extends around Wheels 98 and 99 mounted on the walls 14 and 15. The top of the conveyor 91 is parallel to a section of the conveyor 54 directly to the front of the conveyor section 8|. The potatoes and foreign materials which come along on the conveyor 54 Will be dropped on to the conveyor 91 Which Will then convey said materials toWards the air stream and against the bottom of the said overhead potato holding conveyor section 81.

A suitable drive is provided for the various conveyors. This drive includes a gear reduction drive unit 100. The gear reduction drive unit 100 is driven by a pulley 101 connected by a, belt 102 with a pulley 103 upon the shaft of the blower 16. Consequently, when the blower 16 is driven, the gear reduction drive unit 100 Will be driven. The gear reduction drive unit 100 has a driven pulley 104 over which an endless drive belt 105 extends. This drive belt 105 extends against a drive pulley 106 connected to drive the conveyor 91. It also extends over drive pulleys 101 and 108. The drive pulley 101 is connected to drive the conveyor 54 while the drive pulley 108 drives the conveyor 55. An idler pulley 109 mounted on the wall 14 holds the endless belt 105 tightly against the pulleys 101 and 108.

The endless belt 105 continues over a pulley 110 which is mounted on the wall 14. The endless belt 1,05 'after leaving the pulley 108 is guidedby an idler pulley I |4 mountedfon the wall lt, and then engages overl the said pulley I li! and returns back tov the starting puiley |04. The gear reduction drive unit is also provided with a driven shaftl Hv5 which is rotatively supported upon the walls 14 and |5 to the back side of the cross con-V veyor n90 .for preventing the potatoes which are discharged upon the top of the bottom section 92` of the cross conveyor 90 from falling off. Thetop housing 25 is mounted in position by fastening elements |2| engaging adjacent flanges upon the housing 25 at the top portions of the walls 14 and [5.v If-Vdesired, the direction of discharge of the top lhousing 25g may bechanged by removing the fastening elements |2l and changing the direction'onthe housing 25. ForVV example, it may be turned Aaround 180, as indicated by lthe dot and dash lines 25'. Itmay then be secured in position. Now the stream of air will be directed to the front of the potato separatingv machine.

The operation of the potato separating machine may be understood from the following:

The potatoV separating machine is drawn forwardsrso that the digger 42 digs the potatoes and. adjacent soilVV which isV4 forced' upon the shovelrs andronrto; the conveyor 53. VThislmaterial will be forced upon the top of the conveyor 53 which will carry it rearwards and upwards. section of the conveyor 54 extends yalongthe adjacentvsection of the conveyor 53 Aforassisting the ,conveying operation. The materialwill bev conveyed rearwards and then upwards aronndwtheconveyor drum 52 and then will be transferred on to and Continue alongthe top of thepconveyorVM. As this material progresses dirtand small particles will fall down through.. thepconveyor 54 andthrough the wire .screen conveyor 55 upon-the dirt handling conveyorv 857.7; This dirt will be dischargeedpon the top-,of i the cross; conveyor 50 -which will discharge it to i the sidelof the potato separating machine. The

potatoes and larger particles willl'continue to be carried byA the top section of the conveyor-iiV and the Wire screen conveyor 55, and they will be carried across the air expandingV section ,of the air'guiding means for the stream of air from the blower 16, at which point all light materials v will be blownupwards lthrough the housing 25.

If lthe soil does not contain rocks therpotatoes r may be removed from the conveyor dvbefore- {60 soil contains rocks, the potatoes and'rocks pro-, ceed to and are deposited on the conveyor 91.'

they are dropped on to the conveyor 91. If. the

Theconveyor el in conjunction withthe overhead potato holdingsection'el of the'conveyor 54 .will .actually force the potatoes and rocks into the air stream, see particularly Fig.` 7a in which the potatoes are illustrated and ndicated by letter "P and the rocks by letter uR. TheV rocksR and heavymaterial will fall downwards The potatoes rials which will be blown upwards throughthe pockets between the bars 52 Aand the rubber bafiles 'Miof the conveyor 54 will actually carry the potatoesvacross the air stream. The potatoes will be forced past the baflle IV which is cono structed' of rubber or other fiexible material and which is also provided `with slits H' ex- As soon tendedidownwards from its top edge.

as the potatoes pass the baflle ll they will be` past the air stream and then the potatoes will drop because of gravity upon the bottom section.

92 of the cross conveyor 90. From the bottom section 92 the potatoes will be guided by the blade 94 and ,will be discharged into suitable receivingbagsor receptacles.V

The blower |6 is driven by an engine. or other'i drivingdevice which will rotate thesprocket wheel 38.

This drives the rotor of` the blower-- lt.. The.air-stream.producedby the Ablower Ii i will be` dischargedV upwards` through the air'l .guiding means consisting of the baflles |0, ll,

|2 and. 13. Because the `area between the bafiles |0 andll, andthe bafile |2 is relatively small,

we may consider this area. as the throat section-- of the air guiding means. In this throat section the airV pressure and Velocity is strongl enough to blowv the potatoes upwards against the v Immediately w already expanded and is incapable of'V blowing the potatoes.V However, it is sufliciently strong to blow the potato tops; weeds and-light matetop housing 25.

Rotations of the sprocket 38 will be transmitted by the Vbelt `102 to drive the. gear reduction drive-.unit 1001 This gear reductiondrive. unit ll in turndrives the ``pulley l04-and thev Shea ns.. The puney mtdrives the endmssbem;

105, whichV in, turn `indirectlydrives the con- Veyors ;91. 54-.and.55. The drive sprocketsj63,

drivenby means not-shownon the drawing, will I drive.thelendless-conveyor 53. Because of the driven endless conveyors 53and 54 the conveyor drum 62 'will be rotated and this drum in turn drivesthedirt handling conveyor85. The shaft1 I ll 5.- indirectly drives the 'cross conveyorV 90.

In'Figs. 3-10 inclusive, a modified forme of the inventionhas beenflisciosed'. The potato sepa ratingmachine includeseir. guidine .means characterzed ;by baflles J 30; and .[3 Il mounted between. the side walls of arvhousing `[59 for guiding. a

stream ofvair froma `discharge concluit |32 which ,A isconnected with a blower l33, in'a substantially Vertical.gdirection` TheV air V guidingrmeans is Stream Of. air ten. float vpotatoes .and in which..

.heavy'foreignmeteriels Suchas rocks wiiifaii,

down, while light foreign. materialsuchas the potem .topi dirt and. weeds. will. blow upwards.

Agpotato dieser. 13.1: is. connected, .by a. pomus4 Conveyine wSt'stern. including. a .conveyor 138,1with.. Said .throatsection |35 for cqnveyine potatoes.. potem topazrocksand dirtas. received .from said;

diggerl through the. Said, .air Stream..,. The.

conveyor |38.is constructed with inclindbars '82. forming, pockei fr the. potatoes.: SaidV 00m.

veyor l348 is gnided oveliwheelsv I39 immediately g'uiding means; Theconveyor'iihas a sectiom N13 COmDrising an: overhe'ad` potatm nolding=oon veyor section extending' substantiall' horizomtally` across`` the throat' Section- 1-35?- of? theairf guiding means for guiding' potatoesc across said` stream ofair, which areflfioatediupwards against said overhead potato holding conveyoriseotionf [43 by said' stream. of air. i

Meansf is .prcvided for "transfenningr theipotatoesx from the conveyor' 1138: toarbeneathssaid overheact:

potatoi holding conveyor: section 1343i. means comprises a: transfer/ring cmwley'oittilla. The transfe-rlring conveyor 'M5' is extendedl' bei-f tweeniwheels' |*4`B'and'1 Wt; The dischange offthea: conduit [32` is provided?` with; ani: inclinedi sercem I #82 adapted to directiarock-s and heavyfmater-ial? doWnwards-into'a collectngfhon` M9;

The potato diggerI |31L' is: associated with az digger` elevator 159 which includes asupportrod" HH?`` pivotally connected? with the fra'rnefoltj the= digger` |3l'f and piv-otally' connected- With'`` al levhn' |52i. The l'ever`` 152" i's'ipiv'otally. supportc'datfiits.: back end 1531 Itsffront'nendiszassociatediwithaz. pintle |54 cooperative withfa groupmff openingsr. l55` upon a` support liiarh P56; The frame' of. theJ digger |`3T is pivoteliy`` comiect'ed-i` by a; pintle member lilL witl'r the housi'ng lfifirofthef potato: separating machine. i

TheA blow-er 1-33 is mounted' within: thehousingf [59; Alfi'rotary potato'` 'topi thrower is: also moun'ted within the housingf- 1159r directly'- above the-aiirstream: 'Ine`` housing' W91 has` a curyed: li'afll'e wall lii'll to. direct the' s'rreanr` roawrdsr The thi'owe'r: Hill' will*` thr'ow the lightiparticlesf reiaawvard's' and dbwnwards'; as i guided by anothen balile 162 mountedi within the` Housing' 1159i. pulley` 165v is ``i1'iount`ed upon'` the' sliaft` of? thei blower' T373' and-` ctrii'riects with. a belt. ISB? whichi is: connected' witl'r the'driye' pulley: Ifii'loffa v gear reductiondrive unit'll. Thisfigear. rednctiomdriuefi. unit l'8`isprovi`ded withfa driven= pulfeyl lfigiccninected by a belt- IM; With a-z pulleyv ITI? connected' fori-idriving the conveyor' |.3B- Ai crossiibltlr. M2: drive'sa pulley l'rwhich drivesf'the conveyorrldl. 'The'gear-'reductionv` drive-unit: I li'isialsoiprovidedfi with 'a dri'ven' shaft M151rotatvelyfsupported;upon* the housing 159i and' connected* by az heh:` 116i to' drive-a cross conveor' HT. The cross convcyoi? I T'l is for44 the i purpose off" rern'oving'" thefsepaznteda potatoes. The potatoes will! be disch'argew uoni the'bottom section |1'l8'fof thecros's`=conveyor;. An: inclined' pl'ate= WH! direct's` thef potatoes dfi' the: cross conveyor' IWY. The housingf 'l9isi'support-iedupon Wheels I 80.

The` operation of' this: form'` ofii the invention:l maybe understood from theffollowingf` When the potato= separating` machine: is drawn: orward's the` potato' digg'er: Hill will: dig: uprthe*I potatoes and earth which: will beforoedfupon-fthe conveyor |f3`8, whichi will' co'nvey` same rearwards andl upwards' and then through the i air: stream from' the hlower discharge conduit: |'3-2. The potato tops,l weeds; dirt` and`` otheif'light materials will be blowm upwards' tbthe' thnower: #59: which' will`Av throw them1 nearwards along theyhousing'-` 1239 and'` a' baifle lffi'f. The *pol'atoes'fv and'l heavymate-` rials-from the conveyor 1-38! then continue t'o the transfer conveyor illwhich thenniovesithem into the air' stream: The-irccks andlheavy; materials will fall`^`downwards and: Wilfhe' the'inclined screen U18' into: the recentfacle 149. The potatoes will' he' fioated ujpwai'd's against the pockets: of the bottom' ofverhcad potato-- holding conveyor section |t3 of`l theconveyorh W82 which wilf move the' potatoes over' the-lioii'irin'` section conveyor ITI;

I rotor of. the blower l33`will drive the pulley |85,

whichrbecause of the belt |66, will drive the gear reduction drive unit ISB which drives the conveyors38, 145 and I'l'l.

While I have illustrated and described'the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is tobe understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions heren disclosed and. the right isireserved to all changes and Vmodifications comingwithin the scope of the invention as defin'ed n,the appended claims.

Having thus described my nvention, what I` ola-imo as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a -potato separating machine, air guiding 2 means for |guiding a stream of air in substantially a Vertical direction and having a throat' section in` which the stream of air can fioat p0- tatoes and in which heavy foreign materials such asirocks will fall down and also having an air z expandingsection in which the potatoes will not float but in which light foreign materials such as the potato tops, dirt and weeds will blow up-` wards, means for driving a current of air upwards through said air guiding means, a porous cornleying` system forconnection With a digger,

forfconveying potatoes and foreignv materials in thc-soilras received from said digger through said air stream and having acarrying section extending` substantially horizontally across said air expanding section so that said current of air may blowl the light foreign materials u'pwards, and said porous conveying system also having an overhead'potato holding conveyor section extending substantially horizontally across said throat section so that said stream of airmay float potatoes upwards against said overheadgpotato holding conveyor section for conveying the potatoes through said air stream while the heavyv foreign materials will fall downwards and become separated from the potatoes, and means for transferringithe potatoes from said carrying section to said' overhead potato holding conveyor section.

2; In a potato separating machine, air guidingmeans for' guiding a stream of air in substantially a Vertical direction and having a 'throat section` in which the stream of air can` fioat potatoes and in whichl heavy foreign materials such as rocks will fall down and also having-an air exflpanding section. in which the potatoes will not fioat but in which light foreign materials such as the potato tops, `dirt and weeds will blow upwards, means for driving a current of air' upwards through said air'guiding means;4 a' porous oonveying system for connection with a digger for conveyingpotatoes and foreign mate.:-

rials in the soil as received' from said 'dggen through said air stream and having a carrying section extending substantially horizdnta'lly.` across said air expanding` section so thatz said current of air may blow the light foreign materials upwards, and said porous conveying system also having an overhead 'potato holding conveyor section extending substantially horizontally across said throat section so that said stream of air may fioat potatoes upwards against said overhead potato holding conveyor section for conveying the potatoes through said air stream while the heavy foreign materials will fall downwards and become separated from the potatoes, and means for transferring the potatoes from said carrying section to said overhead potato holding conveyor section, said air guiding means including a series of bafiles.

3. In a potato separating machine, air guiding means for guiding a stream of air in substantially a vertical direction and having a throat section in which the stream of air can float potatoes and in which heavy foreign materials such as rocks will fall down and also having an air expanding section in which the potatoes will not fioat but in which light foreign materials such as the -potato tops, dirt, and Weeds will blow upwards, means for driving a current of air upwards through said air guiding means, a porous conveying system for connection with a di-gger for conveying potatoes and foreign materials in the soil as received from said digger through said air stream and having a carrying section extending substantially horizontally across said air expa-nding section so that said current of air may blow the light foreign materials upwards, and said porous conveying system also having an overhead potato holding conveyor section extending substantially horizontally across said throat section so that said stream of air may float potatoes upwards against said overhead potato holding conveyor section for conveying the potatoes through said air stream while the heavy foreign materials will fall downwards and become separated from the potatoes, means for transferring the potatoes from said carrying section to said overhead potato holding conveyor section, and a cross conveyor` adjacent said air guiding means for receiving by gravity 'potatoes moved across said air stream and conveying away said separated potatoes.

4. In a potato separating machine, air guiding means for guiding a stream of air in substantially a Vertical direction and having a throat section in which the stream of air can float potatoes and Vin which heavy foreign materials such as rocks will fall down and also having an air expanding section fin which the potatoes will not fioat but in which light foreign materials such as the potato tops, dirt and weeds will blow upwards, means for drivingra'current of air upwards through said air guiding means, a porous conveying system for connection with a digger for conveying potatoes and foreign materials in the soil as received from said digger through said air stream and having a carrying section extending substantially horizontally across said air eX- panding section so that said current of air may blow the light foreign materials upwards, and said porous conveying system also having an overhead potato holding conveyor section extending substantially horizontally across said throat section so that said stream of air may float potatoes upwards against said overhead potato holding conveyor section for conveying the po-l tatoes through said 'air stream while the heavy foreign materials will fall downwards and hecome separated from the potatoes, means for transferring the potatoes from said carrying;

section to said overhead potato holding conveyor section, a cross conveyor adjacent said air guiding means for receiving and conveying away said separated potatoes, and a iiexible bafile between said cross conveyor and said air stream, said flexible bafiie being adapted to bend and allow potatoes to pass.

5. In a potato separating machine, air guiding means for guiding a stream of air in substantially a Vertical direction and having a throat section in which the stream of air can fioat potatoes and in which heavy foreign materials such as rocks will fall down and also having an air expanding section in which the potatoes will not fioat but in which light foreign materials such as the potato tops, dirt and weeds will blow upwards, means for driving a current of air upwards through said air guiding means, a porous conveying system for connection with a digger for conveying potatoes and foreign materials in the soil as received from said digger through said air stream and having a carrying section extending substantially horizontally across said air expanding section so that said current of air may blow o the light foreign materials upwards, and said porous conveying system also having an overhead potato holding conveyor section extending substantially horizontally across said throat section so that said stream of air may float potatoes upwards against said overhead potato holding conveyor section for conveying the potatoes through said air stream while the heavy foreign materials will fall downwards and become separated from the potatoes, and means for transferring the potatoes from said carrying section to said overhead potato holding conveyor section, said porous conveying system including a conveyor drum, and several conveyors engaged about said drum.

6. In a potato separating machine, air guiding means for guiding a stream of air in substantially a Vertical direction and having a throat section in which the stream of air can float potatoes and in which heavy foreign materials such as rocks will fall down and also having an air expanding section in which the potatoes will not float but in which light foreign materials such as the potato tops, dirt and weeds will blow upwards, means for driving a current of air upwards through said air guiding means, a porous conveying system for connection With a digger for conveying potatoes and foreign materials in the soil as received from said digger through said air stream and having a. carrying section extending substantially horizontally across said air expanding section so that said current of air may blow the light foreign materials upwards, and said porous conveying system also having an overhead potato holding conveyor section extending substantially horizontally across said throat section so that said stream of air may fioat potatoes upwards against said overhead potato holding conveyor section for conveying the potatoes through said air stream while the heavy foreign materials will fall downwards and become separated from the potatoes, and means for transferring the potatoes from said carrying section to said overhead potato holding conveyor section, comprising a conveyor beneath said carrying section and terminating adjacent said throat section of the air guiding means.

7. A potato separating machine as defined in claim 1, including a top housing above said air expanding section, said top housing having a baflle wall for guiding said stream of air upwards and rearwards, a rotary potato top thrower mounted in said housing, and said thrower com- 13 prising a rotatively mounted drum having radial fins and positioned with one side thereof in said air stream and rotative in the direction of travel of said air stream.

8. A potato separating machine as defined in claim 7, including a shaft for rotatively supporting said thrower, and adjustable supports mounted on said top housing and supporting said shaft in order that the position of said thrower in said air stream may be varied.

9. A potato separating machine as defined in claim 7, including an exit baflle for directing the discharge of said stream of air from said top housing, a rod supporting said baflie on said top housing, and means for holding said rod in se- Iected turned positions for adjusting the position of said exit bafile.

PETER LA POINTE.

REFEREN CES CITED The following references are of record in the fi1e of this patent:

Number Number 14 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Gite May 2, 1876 Klinghammer Aug. 18, 1914 Silberberg Nov. 2, 1915 Frederick June 13, 1933 Hewitt Aug. 22, 1933 Pyatt Mar. 23, 1937 Batie Oct. 12, 1937 Widuch Jan. 6, 1942 Parr Mar. 24, 1942 La Pointe Aug. 31, 1948 Thompson Jan. 4, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date: Sweden Jan. 26, 1916 Sweden Feb. 22, 1928 

